Every New Year’s Eve, Palma celebrates the Festa of l’Estendard to commemorate the incorporation of Mallorca to into Europe’s Christian kingdoms.

Palma de Mallorca: The Festa de l'Estendard – Banner Day

The Festa of l’Estendard commemorates the entry of troops under King James the Conqueror into the capital of Mallorca on December 31, 1229, heralding the end of Muslim power in the islands.

This celebration, which has been declared an Intangible Cultural Asset, is one of Europe’s oldest secular holidays, since it dates back to the thirteenth century.

The events surrounding the celebration kick off with the festival’s opening speech at Palma’s City Hall. On the following day, the institutions place a floral offering at the statue of Jaume I in Plaza de España, where a concert and popular street fair will take place.

The major, most traditional acts are celebrated on December 31. In the morning, the banner representing the Conquest of Mallorca and King Martí’s crest are placed in Plaza de Cort. Next, a large retinue made up of drummers, cossiers, cavallets, the Mallorca Council’s Joch de Ministrils and the Palma Town Band starts off for the Cathedral, where the Bishop of Mallorca celebrates a solemn thanksgiving mass.

At noon, Pere d’Alcàntara Penya’s play La Colcada, a historical romance that depicts the celebration of this holiday in the mid-nineteenth century it is performed in front of the Town Hall.

After this event, the city’s gold medals will be given out and the city of Palma will announce the list of illustrious citizens.